KEEPING MICE OUT OF THE GARAGE
NEWTOWN, PA
Posted by Admin
Finding a mouse in the kitchen is the nightmare of every homeowner. However, many Newtown area homes and businesses are just as worried about finding mice in the garage.
After all, most garages are attached to houses or main buildings. If the mice can get into the garage, then chances are good that they easily can make their way into most any place within the interior. Before you know it, you could be overrun by rodents.
Most simply are not aware that garages serve as a major entry point for mice. How many times have you spent hours working in the yard or repairing a car while one or more garage doors stood wide open? Those open doors are an invitation to mice to come inside seeking food and shelter. Rodents will definitely take you up on an irresistible invitation like that.
Of course, mice are not always polite enough to use the door. They are very good at finding small holes and cracks that make it possible for them to enter your garage and even the rest of your home or office.
Let's take a closer look at this problem from all angles.
HOW MICE GET INTO GARAGES
Mice will definitely take advantage of an open door or window in a garage, but did you know that doors and windows do not necessarily have to be open to let a rodent in?
Gaps beneath the garage door are infamous for letting mice inside. In fact, this is one of the main one means of access to the garage.
While you can seal the gap around your garage door, mice do have alternatives when it comes to getting inside. For instance, when your laundry room is located in your garage, it needs to have a vent to the outdoors. Unless that vent is properly sealed, mice will use it to gain access.
Garages with dirt floors are particularly vulnerable. This is because mice are quite good at digging, which allows them to simply dig beneath the foundation.
What about the openings through which pipes and wires enter the garage? These also can be convenient access points.
Similarly, mice are adept climbers. They may use electrical wires to get up on the roof of your home. Once there, they will look for ways to enter through the eaves to get into the attic or the garage. Mice even swim, which means that they may use a drain in the garage as an access point.
As you can see, the doors and windows in your garage are not the only access points of which it is helpful to be aware. This is why it's crucial that the doors and windows be properly sealed and that other access points be eliminated as well.
WHAT ARE MICE LOOKING FOR IN GARAGES?
Like all mammals, rodents have certain basic needs for food, shelter and safety. These are the main motivations behind why mice want to get into garages in the first place.
Mice are omnivorous, which means that they can eat just about anything. Plant-based foods like leaves, seeds, blooms and grains make up a large portion of the rodent diet. However, these furry, four-legged invaders also will eat meat of all descriptions and pet food.
Most people may not store a great deal of food in the garage, but maybe that's where you keep an extra bag of food for your dog or a bag of birdseed for the feeder on the patio. Have you ever eaten a sandwich while working on a project in the garage? Any crumbs you left behind may look like a feast to a tiny mouse.
Garages also provide shelter for mice. They are looking for a warm and dry place to nest, and your garage could be ideal. You might find a nest in a drawer or tool box. If you have a car that's just been sitting in one place for quite a while, then you may find a nest of mice in the seats or beneath the hood.
Mice may decide to come into your garage for food, but if they also find a good place to nest, they might move in with you.
SIGNS THAT MICE ARE IN YOUR GARAGE
Mice are pretty good at keeping out of sight. They are more active at night when you are more likely to be asleep. Plus, they are small, so it can be relatively easy for them to escape your notice.
Accordingly, you are more likely to see signs of a mouse's presence rather than the mouse itself. Perhaps the most obvious sign of a mouse infestation is the rodent's waste products. You will probably spot mouse droppings close to food sources or up against a wall or cabinet. Mice typically eliminate in places where they feel safe and sheltered, so you are far less likely to find droppings in the middle of an open area of the garage.
Mice also give away their presence because they gnaw on almost everything they encounter. If you see gnaw marks on doors, cabinets or other items and surfaces in the garage, then it is almost a certainty that your garage is hosting a mouse infestation.
Furthermore, consider that although some mammals, like cats, routinely wash themselves, rodents do not engage in this behavior. This means that their fur tends to be greasy and oily, and these substances rub off on walls and other surfaces.
KEEPING MICE OUT OF GARAGES
Examine your garage for any signs of mouse occupation. If you don't find any, then you're in luck! It's the perfect time to mouse-proof your garage.
The effort begins outside in the yard. Certain conditions outdoors will attract rodents' interest, leading them closer to the house. To prevent this, make certain that you eliminate things like brush and yard debris piles as these provide excellent nesting habitat. Keep lawns mowed fairly short, and if you have a woodpile, make certain that it stands at least 20 feet away from any structures.
Do you have any water leaks in your sprinkler system or inside your home? If so, this is a major attractant to mice. Fix those leaks to deprive rodents of a water source and keep your water bill in check. Store pet food and birdseed indoors using glass or metal containers with tight lids.
You also might want to consider eliminating any heavy shade in the yard. An overgrown shrub or hedge or out-of-control ivy plants all make wonderful hiding places for small rodents. They will stay in shady areas like these all day, then emerge at night to forage for food. Deprive them of a safe place to sleep during the daylight hours, and mice are likely to look elsewhere for a place to sleep and eat.
SPRUCE UP YOUR GARAGE DOOR
If you discovered that the bottom seal of your garage door is lacking, then it's time to get a replacement. Rodents are a real concern in most places, so when you're looking for a new seal, consider getting a product that is built to withstand chewing by rodents. Most garage door seals are made of felt, foam or vinyl, each of which can be chewed through by a mouse. Opt for something stronger to keep the mice out.
Don't forget to take a good look at any other doors and windows in the garage as well. Check the seals on each to ensure that they have a snug fit. Add weatherstripping wherever it is required. This helpful step not only keeps out pests but also cuts down on drafts so that your garage stays warmer in the winter. Additionally, weatherstripping prevents moisture from seeping inside and causing all sorts of problems.
Door gaskets, which can be extremely useful for keeping out pests, may be vinyl or magnetic. Go for a magnetic option if you want a stronger solution, especially if that door sees a great deal of use.
Check the garage windows as well. Add or replace the weatherstripping wherever gaps are present to prevent mice from coming indoors.
KEEP IT CLEAN
Did you know that simply keeping your garage neat and organized can go a long way toward protecting your family from rodents?
The more clutter you store in your garage, the more hiding places you're offering to mice that are looking for a new place to live. Garages that are filled with cardboard boxes, unused sporting equipment, yard and garden tools and more provide mice with exactly the kind of conditions that they need.
Get rid of all of your unused stuff, and make certain that everything you keep is well organized and moved around often. This will discourage rodent activity.
RODENT EXCLUSION
Rodents can spread disease and cause substantial damage. The best way to ensure your garage is rodent proof is by scheduling a free inspection with our rodent exclusion service.
